Strapless brassiere



June 8, 1948. J 5 ABELES 2,443,127

STRAPLESS BRASS IERE Filed NOV. 1, 1947 f INVENTOR.

Jerome 6. Abe/es BY Patented June 8, 1948 STRAPLESS BRAssniaE Jerome Gutsmann Abeles, Chicago, 111., assignor to The Formflt Company, Chicago, Ill., a cornotation of Illinois Application November 1, 1947, Serial No. 783,507

This invention relates to a new and improved strapless .brassiere and has for one of its principal objects the provision of means for maintaining the garment in fixed position on the wearer's body without the aid of metal forms which usually accompany strapless undergarments.

An important object of this invention is to provide a brassiere which snugly engages the peripheries of the breasts to facilitate holding of the garment in position on the wearer.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of hook-and-eye closing means in the front of the garment to give a smooth unbroken line all around the body.

Another and further object of this invention is to provide a brassire with elastic material stretchable laterally in combination with breast pockets, or cups, shaped to curve in under the breasts to lift and hold the breasts in place and to curve out over the breasts to form and shape the breasts.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a one-piece back section for a brassiere extending from a position adjacent the outer side of one breast, across the back to a position adjacent the outer side of the other breast and having convexly curved ends for attachment to convexly curved breast pockets which in turn are attached to convexly curved ends of adjacent front sections to provide for lateral spread to accommodate the breasts with a minimum increase in the circumferences of the top and bottom of the brassiere garment.

A still further object of this invention is to provide flexible stays intermediate the convexly curved attachments of the back and front sections of the brassire to the breast pockets in such a manner that the stays are relatively close together above the breasts and then inwardly at the bottom thereof to securely hold the garment on the wearer and to fully support the breasts.

Another and still further object is to construct the breast pockets in upper and lower portions in such a manner as to permit sufficient lateral spread in the middle of the breast and snugly engage the top and bottom of the breast.

Still another important object of this invention is to provide a brassire having the strapless features described herein and having darts in the front sections intermediate the top and bottom to give deeper breast cups and greater separation between the breasts.

Other and further important objects will bei come apparent from the disclosures in the following specification and accompanying drawing.

. 6 Claims. (01.2-42) der sheer outer garments.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 shows the brassire of this invention in position on a wearer.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a rear view of the brassire of Figure 1 fully spread out.

Figure 4 is an exploded view of the sections comprising the brassiere shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3.

Figure 5 is a front view of a modified form of brassiere shown in position on a wearer.

As shown in the drawings:

The reference numeral [0 indicates generally the body of a woman having a waist l l chest l2, shoulders l3, arms M, and head 15. A strapless brassiere l6 encircles the body of the wearer around the chest [2 and encompasses the breasts H.

The brassiere l6 consists of a continuous back section 3 made of an elastic fabric which stretches laterally. The back section I8 is one piece of material extending from a position adjacent the outer side of one breast across the back to a position adjacent the outer side of the other breast. The inner side of the back section I8 is bordered at the top. and bottom with an elastic tape l9 and 20 to cause better anchoring to the body. The back section is narrowed to effect a trim iit and inasmuch as there are no fastening means in the back the garment presents a smooth unbroken back which will show to advantage un- The low-cut back is especially suitable for strapless outer gowns.

As best shown in the exploded view of Figure 4, the ends 2| and 22 of the back section .are convexly curved. The ends of the back section taper outwardly from the narrow back portion to form the outside of the breast cups. The identical breast pockets are preferably made of a soft fabric such as marquisette and, as shown in. Figure 4, are made of upper and lower portions 23 and 24. The upper portion 23 is provided with a convexly curved bottom 25 andthe lower portion 24, which is considerably longer than the upper portion 23, is provided with a convexly curved top 26. These opposing convex ends are fastened together by means of a seam 21. As shown in Figure 2, the upper portion 23 of the breast pockets covers the top of the breast l1 and is of such a length that the seam 21 is positioned just above the breast nipple 28. The lower portions 24 of the breast pockets support the underside of the breast and extend down to a position just above the waist l I of the wearer.

The outer sides of the breast pockets of the combined upper and lower portions 23 and 24 are convexly curved and thus oppose the convexly curved ends 2| and 22 of the back section I 8. The sewing together of these oppositely curved ends supplies the necessary shaping of the undergarment to snugly engage a woman's breasts. The scams between the ends of the back section and the outer side of the breast pockets" are indicated by the numeral 29.

Front sections 30 and 3| of the brassire, preferably laterally stretchable. are provided with outer convexly curved sides 32 and 3 3 respectively, and are Joined to the inner sides of the breast pockets as shown by the seams 3 4 and 35. ll

These seams joining opposed convexly-curved ends further aid in making the brassire conform to the natural breast contour.

Flexible stays, preferably covered with an elastic tape, are positioned at each of the seams 29 and also the seams 34 and 35. and aredesignated by numerals 36, 31, 38. and 39 as shown in Figure 3. As shown in Figure 1, the stays spread outwardly at their middle and firmly support the sides of the breasts. The shape of the seams 29, 34, and 35 is such that the upper ends of the stays curve inwardly to snugly engage the top of the breasts and similarly the lower portions of the stays curve inwardly toward each other to support the underside of the breasts and to cause the garment to be firmly anchored to the wearer's body. The elastic tape covering of the stays aids in fixing the position of the garment in the same manner as the elastic tape borders I9 and 20. A soft plush material is positioned on the inside of the garment above and below each of the breast pockets, as shown at 40 and 4|, and 42 and 43.. These soft pads insure wearer comfort.

The inner sides of the front sections 30 and 3| 40 are provided with a plurality of closely spaced hooks 44 and eyes 45 so that the sections may be fastened or removed as desired at a position centrally of the garment between the two spaced breasts. Further, the inner ends of the front sections are cut on a slight concave curve so that when the hooks 44 engage the eyes 45 there is a tendency to pull the garment in between the breasts. This permits the garment to have a smooth surface entirely around the body. There are no unsightly projections or bulges caused by fastening means as they are concealed between the breasts. The back of the brassire is one piece, continuous from the side of one breastaround to the side of the other breast.

As best shown in Figure 5, the front sections 46 and 41 of a brassire which is otherwise identical to that shown in Figures 1 to 4, are modified by the type of material and the insertion of darts 48 and 49 which are positioned therein to cause the garment to better fit the figure. The. material instead of being elastic is preferably cut on rigid satin. The darts and the satin combine to give the garment deeper bust cups and greater separation between the breasts.

The brassires of this invention perform their function of providin adequate support for a woman's breasts without the aid of shoulder straps or uncomfortable wire forms. The Earment is desired to closely follow the contour of the body and be anchored thereto by having seams on opposed convexly curved ends with flexible stays therealong which encompass the breasts. The laterally stretchable back section and the elastic tape borders also contribute to the self-supportof the brassire. The result is a -brassiere which is comfortable, molds and'holds the breasts in a proper manner, and remains fixed in the desired position on the body.

The brassires 01 this invention are adaptable I to various breast sizes without change in the overall size. The flexible stays are permitted substantial expansion for large breasts but even though they are not fully expanded the bras sire supports smaller breasts and clings to the body in the same manner.

Numerous details of construction may be varied throughout a wide range without departing from the principles disclosed herein, and I therefore do not propose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than as necessitated by the appended claims.

' What is claimed is:

1. A strapless brassire comprising a continuous narrow one-piece fabric back section extending from a position adjacent the outer side of one breast of the wearer across the back to a position adjacent the outer side of the other breast of the wearer and terminating in enlarged spaced convexly curved side portions, breast pockets having convexly curved outer ends attached to the convexly curved side portions of the back section, fabric front sections attached to each breast pocket, and fastening means in the front center to join the front sections whereby the brassiere forms a smooth unbroken line all around the wearer's body.

2. A strapless brassiere comprising a narrow continuous fabric back section extending from a position adjacent the outer side of one breast of the wearer across the back to a position adjacent the outer side of the other breast of the wearer and terminating in convexly curved end portions. fabric breast pockets convexly curved at their outer ends and attached to the convexly curved ends of theback section, fabric front sections having convexly curved outer ends attach'ed to the breast pockets, and fastening means in the front center to join the front sections whereby the brassireforms a smooth unbroken line all around the wearer's body.

3. A strapless brassire comprising a narrow continuous fabric back section extending from a position adjacent the outer side of one breast of the wearer across the back to a position adjacent the outer side of the other breast of the wearer and. terminating in convexly curved end portions, marquisette breast pockets convexly curved at their outer ends and attached to me convexly curved ends of the back section, laterally stretchable elastic front sections having convexly curved outer ends attached to the breast pockets, and fastening means in the front center to join the front sections whereby the brassire forms a smooth unbroken line all around the wearer's body.

4. A strapless brassiere comprising a narrow continuous fabric back section extending from "a position adjacent the outer side of one breast greater separation between the breasts, and fastening means in the front center to join the front sections whereby the brassiere forms a smooth unbroken line all around the wearer's body.

- 5. A strapless brassire comprising a narrow fabric back section extending from a position adjacent the outer side of one breast of the wearer across the back to a position adjacent the outside of the other breast of the wearer, the ends of the back section being enlarged and terminating in spaced relation at said outer sides of the breasts and having their outer ends convexly curved, fabric breast pockets attached at their outer ends to the ends of the back section and provided with front portions having contiguous end edges, said breast pockets including lower sections having convexly curved upper ends and upper sections having convexly curved lower ends, seam means attaching said lower and upper sections together and located above the nipples of the breasts, and fastening means between the contiguous edges of said front portions of the breast pockets.

6. A strapless brassire comprising a fabric back section extending from a position adjacent the outer side of one breast of the wearer across the back to a position adjacent the outer side of the other breast of the-wearer, the ends of the back section having convexly curved outer ends, fabric breast pockets including lower sections having convexly curved upper ends and upper REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

0 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,240,510 Taylor Sept. 18, 1917 1,502,000 Herrick July 22, 1924 1,595,389 Espinosa Aug. 10, 1926 1,989,303 Alberts Jan. 29, 1935 2,121,088 La Rue June 21, 1938 2,134,294 Yerkes Oct. 25, 1938 2,406,893 Nunn Sept. 3, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 50,264 France Oct. 24, 1939 

